Mental Health Blog

Five strategies to improve your mood.

wood carved in shape of a brain filled with green happy emojis and medications Key Takeaway:   Zoloft (sertraline) is generally the first-line choice for anxiety, depression, and OCD. Wellbutrin (bupropion) is often preferred when patients want to avoid weight gain or sexual side effects, or when they also struggle with low energy, brain fog, or ADHD. The right choice depends on your full symptom picture — which is exactly what a psychiatric evaluation is designed to uncover.

Key Takeaway : When depression or anxiety symptoms are not improving, despite taking an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication, this may be a treatment stall. This is a good reason to see a psychiatrist, who will consider potential dosage changes, medication changes, reevaluation of diagnosis, or other factors, ie, diet, sleep, or medical problems, that can be affecting one's mood. Dr. Gray: "Thank you for sharing with me the details of this recent depressive episode.

Good question! The training is different, but they each play important roles in the mental health care system. Psychiatrists are physicians (MDs or DOs)  who complete four years of medical school followed by four years of residency training in psychiatry. Psychiatric nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses  who have different training from psychiatrists, but they also learn to diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe psychiatric medications. Both psychiatris

How to Know When It May Be Time — and How to Find a Psychiatrist in Richmond or Henrico, VA You are not the first person to ask these questions. . . Maybe you have not been feeling like yourself for a while. Maybe you are wondering whether your symptoms are “serious enough,” or whether there is help for the uncomfortable thoughts, emotions, or stress you have been carrying.  In reality, psychiatric care can be helpful long before things reach a crisis point. The truth is, man

Is Therapy Really for Me ? Let’s Clear Some Things Up. "Have you repeatedly googled, “Therapists near me?” , “What is therapy?” , or “Top...

When Success Feels Hollow: A Heart-to-Heart for High-Achieving Women Can you relate to this statement, "I should feel happy. I've achieved so much. I have a beautiful family, the job I dreamed of, and  yet I feel exhausted, anxious and unfulfilled." You're not alone. Many accomplished women experience this silent struggle. Many accomplished women grapple with internal battles that remain unseen such as, perfectionism, people-pleasing, unresolved trauma or imposter syndrome. T

Having you been experiencing analysis paralysis, scouring the web, reading 10, 20, 30 different therapist profiles, but still unable to...

If you're feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, or depression, you're not alone. Deciding between therapy, medication, or a combination of both can be challenging. Let's break it down, so you can make the right choice for you. Understanding the Professionals: Therapist vs. Psychiatrist Therapist : Also referred to as psychotherapists or counselors. Think of therapists as mental health coaches. They help you navigate emotional challenges through asking insightful questions,